NEWPORT coach Ian McIntosh (pictured) has given his support to Wales counterpart Graham Henry in the wake of the Saturday's devastating 36-6 home defeat by Ireland.

McIntosh says the volatile reaction of Welsh fans to the defeat is understandable and that Henry has to accept the pressure.

But he believes the Kiwi is a first class coach and that if Wales played Ireland again this weekend they might well win.

"Wales is a country along with South Africa and New Zealand which is very passionate about its rugby, so I'm not surprised at the reaction to the defeat," says McIntosh.

The former Natal and South Africa national coach said he had been in similar situations with his country.

"England beat us in Pretoria in 1994 (by a record 32-15) and put on a hell of a display. I got the wrath from that.

"But the next weekend we beat them in Cape Town (27-9).

"I wouldn't be a bit surprised if it was a series and Wales played Ireland again this Saturday they would deliver a quite different performance.

"I saw Wales play against Romania and I was very impressed with the style they played, their ball in hand rugby. It was great.

"Graham Henry is a great coach and like him I was surprised last Saturday, but those sort of things can happen to you.

"I'm sure when it comes to the next game you will see a big difference."

McIntosh says more pressure has been put on coaches since the advent of professional rugby and referring to Liverpool soccer manager Gerard Houllier's recent heart-attack, said: "There but for the grace of God go us all."

He added: "I think the game has beome more pressurised in the last decade. "In the past, if you lost to another side, as long as you put in a good performance, basically it was accepted.

"Now you are a hero one week and a villain the next, but I understand. "It's like being a managing director in business. You are paid to do a job, you are under pressure, but you can't walk away. You have a job to do and you have to get on with it."

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